“3 steps to connect with your own heart”
– Stop living someone else’s script
– Become yourself (the way you were designed)
– Build the bridge between vocation and ministry
– Get started on the dream God put in your heart
Where is God? – No matter what happens, I see the Lord steadily moving people from servant to King, steadily involving his people in building the Kingdom by finding their mountain and their own heart. It’s refreshing and fun to be yourself! This testimony prophetically spells it out for all of us.
As a Christian for more than 20 years and having studied Theology in the hope that it would bring me closer to God, I was always searching for what was never there. I resigned my job in the engineering field and went into “full time ministry”
Long story short, I knew there was more than this, and God pointed me back to the marketplace. Then the greatest thing happened to me. I got ahold of your book, Releasing Kings, and man it’s now just over 2 years and I am really living for the first time. What a difference when the light switch came on. I’m dancing with you!!!!
Back from captivity – At the same time the enemy has turned up the heat on many Kings. Many are in the captivity of debt, health issues, relational issues… everything the enemy can think of to convince us we have no future and no dream.
We’ve had a huge financial setback… as you can probably tell from the tone of the newsletters over the last month. My own experience just mirrors that of many other Kings. We are working toward a resurrection and a 7-fold restoration of what was lost. Please join with me in holding this ground in our faith: “God is discipling Kings to create wealth and to convert money into ministry, to build the Kingdom from a generous heart and a cup that overflows. In the process we are having fun, making money and loving people.”
This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. Jer 29:10-14 NIV
Being present in whatever you’re going through – One of the keys to surviving a setback from the enemy or a test from God is finding the presence and purpose of the Lord in that season or trial. It can be a joyful place if you allow yourself to be present in the current moment and situation – no matter how painful or scary. Whether we’re blessed or feel forsaken, we can still hear his voice, find his leading, experience redemption, resurrection and restoration… if we’ll only be present and have faith in God’s faithfulness. I’ve personally never experienced this level of trial, yet I can feel the deepening of my own character and compassion. I can feel the need for resurrection and restoration. I’m being schooled in wealth creation. It’s not passive now. The fastest way out of the wilderness is to learn its lesson. We are not ashamed of the gospel… the just shall live by faith (Rom 12:16-18). We can see the Kingdom and its abundance, yet still be content in any state while we make enough tents to survive. We know how to prosper in prison if we have to. Being a King is first a matter of the heart, then an experience we can export through relationships, ministry and finances.
This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” 8 Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. 9 They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the Lord. Jer 29:4-9 NIV
Leverage the Kingdom – There is a very good reason that our hearts can expect God’s provision and prosperity to enter our own land, mountain, and ministry. It’s the Kingdom. When we can put the Kingdom first, everything else is added. Our promotion is 1) for the sake of His people and 2) because of his great love for us individually.
Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs and carpenters and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David. 12 And David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel. 2 Sam 5:11-12 NIV
The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it. Prov 10:22 NIV
Confidence – I have had the experience of wealth, and will again. It’s not hard to manage. Love of money is not a temptation, compared to loving people, building the Kingdom and experiencing His presence. Wealth is just a tool that we can use and must use to fulfill our calling as Kings and to make disciples of nations. Don’t back down. Great things are in store for those who survive the trials and keep our eyes on the prize. There is another level of glory and promotion coming to Kings. God is just digging us deeper to receive it in maturity.
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deut 31:6 NIV
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” 6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” Heb 13:5-6 NIV
So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For in just a very little while, “He who is coming will come and will not delay. 38 But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.” 39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved. Heb 10:35-39 NIV
Having friends – Brothers and sisters in Christ have held me up in prayer and love in ways that have saved my life spiritually and practically. Our materials, books, conferences, and newsletters all do a great and prophetic job of articulating something very precious in the Kingdom. What I’ve learned is that disciples are made and Kings are released through relationships, not just principles and preaching. Connecting with our own hearts, the Father’s heart and the hearts of our friends in Christ is the way this movement is working. Coaching has unlocked the door of love in a new way.
Your role in the Kingdom is worth the investment of your time to put that plan into place and to get the help you need to do it. Here are some suggestions for next steps. We may be able to help you with a heart plan.
In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps. Prov 16:9 NIV
